Means for regulating the production of steam.



No. 772,392. f PATENTED our. 18, 1904.

I H. s. BALDWIN.

MEANS FOR REGULATING THE PRODUCTION OF STEAM.

APPLIOATIONIILBDDBO.5.1902.

N BSHEETB-SHEETL InOenbcr Hem ry 6. Ealdwin mms No. 772,392; 7 PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

. H. S. BALDWIN.

MEANS FOR REGULAT ING THE PRODUCTION OF STEAM. APPLIOATIOIZ 311.211 DEC. 5, 1902.

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No. 772,392. 7 PATENTED 001118, 1904.

- H. s. BALDWIN;

MEANS FOR REGULATING THE PRODUCTION OF STEAM. I

APPLIOATIOHIILEDDEO.5,1902.

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IO O I" "J! (U l 1 G u an g 1 I l I to m. 1O I I mm m g; I a; pg w 1 1 w 3w m f in Q m I Ov Ill I I InOenbor Henry 6. Baldwin UNITED STATES Patented October is, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY S. BALDWIN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR REGULATING THE PRODUCTION OF STEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,392, dated October 18, 1904:.

Application filed December 5 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Regulating the Production of Steam, of which the following is a specification.

In the operation of flash-boilers and hydrocarbon-burners it is necessary to vary the amount of water delivered to the boiler in accordance with the demand for steam, and it is also desirable, although not absolutely necessary, to correspondingly vary the fuel-supply. This regulation may be accomplished by hand or automatically or bya combination of both.

The present invention has for its object to provide a regulator by means of which the capacity of a fluid pump or pumps may be varied from maximum to minimum in an efiicient manner while the pumps are running.

The invention will be described in its application to automobiles; but it is not limited thereto, since it can be used to impartvariable strokes or movements to other forms of apparatus than pumps.

The invention consists in the combination, with one or more pumps, of an actuator reciprocated with a constant length of stroke by the motor or engine and at a speed corresponding with that of said motor or engine, together with a guide in which said actuator reciprocates, a rocker adjacent to said guide, and a hand-lever bymeans of Whichthe guide can be adjusted so as to cause the actuator to impart a movement to the rocker of a greater or less magnitude, as may be desired.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the mechanism of a steam-automobile equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of the pumps and the regulator. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the same, partly in section; and Fig. 5 1s a cross-section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4, on a larger scale.

The boiler 1 is of the flash-boiler type, hav- Serial No. 133,975. (No model.)

ing the steam-generating coil 2 and the superheating-coil 3, the latter being connected by the pipe 4: with the engine 5. The engine is controlled by a suitable throttle-valve in the pipe 4. The exhaust-steam passes through the pipe 6 to a reheater 7 and thence to a downdraft-flue 8. When the apparatus is standing idle or consuming only a small amount of steam, the products of combustion from the fire-chamber will pass out of the flue-opening 8. Water is carried in a tank 9, from which it is pumped into the steamgenerating coil by a pump 10, and between the pump and the boiler is a relief-valve 10. Liquid fuel is carried in a reservoir 11, in which a suitable air-pressure is maintained by a hand-pump 12 or otherwise. The fuel is led through a pipe 13 to a pump 14 and thence to a burner 15 under the coil 2. By means of a by-pass and three-way cook 16 the fuel may be fed directly to the burner under air-pressure without passing through the pump.

The engine is belted or otherwise mechanically connected with a shaft 17, which may be the rear or driving axle of the automobile. On said shaft is an eccentric 18, havingastrap 19 and rod 20, by means of which a constant stroke is imparted to an actuator by means of which the pumps are driven.

Inasmuch as there are times when the demand for steam is light and as such times may occur when the vehicle is running at a high speed, it is necessary to provide means whereby the effective discharge of the pumps can be varied. This change in the effective discharge is accomplished by varying the stroke of the pump-pistons by means of the regulator, which forms the subject of the present invention. It is interposed between the actuator and the pumps in such a manner that the pumps may work at full stroke or at any intermediate stroke between maximum and zero without interfering with the movement of the actuator. It follows that the work done by the eccentric is in proportion to the demand upon the pumps, so that although the stroke of the actuator remains constant yet if the pumps are not working the eccentric runs idly without doing any work other than overcoming its own friction.

The eccentric-rod is screwed into a fork 21, which has at its other end two eyes 26, surroundinga transverse pin 23, whose ends are received in the bushings 27 of the antifriction-bearings. The pin is preferably held fast in the eye 26 and is provided with a sleeve 24, on which the antifriction-bearing, consisting of the rolls and the sleeve 22, works. This bearing is held in place against sidewise movement by the eyes 26. The projecting ends of the pin which enter the guides are provided with bushings 27 and concentric rings 28, with antifriction-rolls 29 between the bushing and the ring. The guides are formed by parallel flanges 30 on the upper and lower edges of parallel plates 31, which are rigidly united along their lower edges by a box-shaped structure 82. On each plate is a trunnion 33, journaled in a bearing in a frame 34, which is firmly secured to a beam 35, forming part of the frame of the automobile. A hand-lever 36 is fastened to one of the trunnions and carries a latch to engage with a notched quadrant 37, so that the lever and guide can be adjusted to any desired position.

Fulcrumed in the frame 34 is a rocker 38, whose under side at one side of. said fulcrum is straight and is preferably adapted to be brought down between the guide-flanges by means of a spring 39, attached at one end to the rocker'and at the other to the frame 34. When the guide is so adjusted that the path of the actuator is parallel with the straight edge 40 on the rocker, the latter will not be moved; but if the guide is tilted, so that an angle is formed between it and the face 40 of the rocker 38, the sleeve 22 of the actuator will impart motion to the rocker and it will oscillate on its fulcrum, the degree of angular motion being dependent on the angular divergence between the path of the actuator and the straight edge 40.

Pivotally attached to one end of the rocker is the rod 41 of the water-pump piston 42. The fuel-pump plunger 43 is connected by a link 44 with a block 45, adjustable along the other arm of the rocker and carrying a set-screw 46 for securing it. This adjustable block enables the stroke of the fuel-pump to be varied with respect to that of the water-pump when desired, so as to secure the proper ratio between them. The barrel or body of the fuel-pump contains a body of glycerin 47 or the like above the plunger to serve as a liquid-packing. The bodies'of the fuel and water pumps are detachabl y secured to the arms of the frame 34. This facilitates the removal of one or both of the pumps when for any reason it seems desirable.

It will be seen that by my invention I am enabled to vary the effective discharge of the two pumps simultaneously and in the same proportion while the pumps are running, so as to adjust the supply of water and fuel in accordance with the demand upon the boiler. Moreover, the work done by the eccentric will vary in the same proportion, which is a most important consideration in an automobile where the conservation of the power is a point carefully studied. The parts are so arranged that the guide and rocker are in line with the rod 20, thereby avoiding excessive friction between the moving and stationary parts.

I do not broadly claim in this case the idea of a variable stroke mechanism wherein an actuator is provided which has a constant length of stroke with a rocker and means for varying the path of the actuator with respect to said rocker, because it forms the subjectmatter of my prior application, Serial No. 114,354, filed July 5, 1902.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus, which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;- but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a liquid-feeding device, the combination with an actuator having a constant stroke, of arocker, elastic means for retaining the rocker in engagement with the actuator, a pump connected with the rocker, and means for varying the path of the actuator with reference to said rocker.

2. In a device for feeding liquid, the combination with an actuator having a constant stroke, of a rocker provided with a straight edge, a spring for retaining the rocker in permanent engagement with the actuator, a pump driven by the rocker, and means for varying the path of the actuator with reference to said Straight edge.

3. In a device for feeding liquid, the combination with an actuator having a constant stroke, of a rocker provided with a straight edge, a spring for the rocker which is adapted to return the same after being moved by the actuator, pumps attached to the rocker, and means for varying the angle of divergence between the path of said actuator and said straight edge.

4. In device for feeding liquid, the combination with an actuator having a constant stroke, of a rocker adjacent thereto and adapted to be moved in one direction by the actuator, a spring for moving the rocker in the other direction, pumps attached to the rocker, and a guide for said actuator adjustable with reference to said rocker.

5. In a device for feeding liquid, the combination with an actuator having a constant stroke, of a rocker, a motive device cooperating with the actuator for oscillating the rocker,

pumps attached to the rocker, a guide for the actuator adjacent to the rocker, and means for varying the position of said guide.

6. In a device for feeding water and liquid fuel, the combination with an actuator having a constant stroke, of a rocker having a straight edge, pumps attached to the rocker, a guide for the actuator adjacent to said edge, a spring acting to oppose the actuator for returning the rocker after being moved by the actuator, and means for varying the angle of divergence between said guide and edge.

7 In a device for feeding water and liquid fuel, the combination with an actuator having a constant stroke, of a rocker held under spring tension, pumps attached to the rocker, a guide for said actuator pivotally supported, and means for turning said guide on its pivots.

8. The combination with an actuator, of means for reciprocating the same, a guide therefor mounted on trunnions, and a rocker adjacent to said guide and having a straight edge which is yieldingly held against said actuator and in the path thereof.

9. The combination with a rocker having a straight edge which tends to assume a definite initial position, of two parallel plates pivotally mounted adjacent thereto, and an actuator guided between said plates and which moves the straight edge from such position.

10. The combination with a rocker which tends to assume a definite initial position and pumps connected therewith, of two parallel flanged plates pivotally mounted adjacent to the rocker, and an actuator having a transverse pin guided between the flanges on said plates.

11. In a device for feeding liquid, the combination with a pair of pumps, of a rocker held under spring tension and common to both pumps for driving the same, and an adjustable block on said rocker to which one of the pump-plungers is connected.

12. In combination, a pump, a spring for moving its plunger in one direction, a rockerarm having an inclined working face for moving it in the opposite direction, an actuator, a guide for the actuator, and means for adjusting the guide.

13. In combination, a pair of pumps, a rocker-arm to which the pumps are connected, a spring for moving the pump-plungers in .one direction, anactuator which moves the plungers through a lost-motion connection, and a source of power for driving the actuator.

14:. In combination, a frame, a pair of pumps which are detachably secured thereto, a rocker which is pivoted to the frame at a point between the pumps, an actuator, and

guides for the actuator which are pivotally supported on the frame.

' 15. In a liquid-supply system, the combination, of a pump, a rocker connected with a movable element thereof, a reciprocating actuator for moving the rocker in one direction, a spring for returning the rocker, and controllable means for varying the extent of movement imparted to the rocker by the actuator.

16. In a liquid-supply system, the combination of a pump, a spring-restrained rocker, an adjustable connection between the rocker and the movable element of the pump, an actuator for oscillating the rocker against the tension of the spring, and adjustable means for controlling the actuator whereby the extent of oscillation of the rocker may be varied.

I 17 In a liquid-supply system, a pair of pumps, a rocker pivoted intermediate its ends and connected with the pump-pistons, a spring tending to maintain the rocker in a definite position, an actuator for the rocker having a constant length of stroke, an angularly-adjustable guide in which the actuator moves, and means for adjusting the guide relatively to the actuator.

18. In a steam-generating system, a boiler, a burner therefor, pumps for delivering fuel and water respectively to the burner and boiler, means connecting the pistons of the pumps, an actuator, a tension device for retaining said means in cooperative relation to the actuator, and means for varying the effective movement of the actuator relative to said connecting means.

19. The combination of a reciprocating actuator, with a rocker provided with a straight edge yieldingly held in the path of one stroke of the actuator and along which the actuator reciprocates.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my. hand this 3d day of December, 1902.

HENRY S. BALDWIN.

I/Vitnesses:

DUGALD MoK. MoKILLoP, JOHN A. MOMANUS. 

